Papa
Stache serves up personality on a plate
Old-time bar gets new life in Big Bend

By Katherine Michalets - Freeman Staff

June 30,
2017

A Twin Peaks
Skillet waits to be served at Papa Stache Pub & Eatery
as Chef Phil Bischoff works on another dish in the
background.Katherine Michalets/Freeman
Staff

BIG BEND - Just
like Ralph Llanas has his own style, so does his
restaurant and bar Papa Stache Pub & Eatery on Big Bend
Drive.

Since buying and
opening the business almost three years ago, Llanas has
redone the interior of the longtime bar by adding wood
paneling to the side from an old pasture fence found on
his property to a whole new kitchen in the basement.

Throughout the
building at W228-S9300 Big Bend Drive, there are themes,
such as the old-timey look to reflect the tucked away
bar that Llanas found in the basement, which he believes
at one point was used as an after-hours, speakeasy sort
of bar. There's also moustaches.

The name Papa
Stache came from Llanas's nickname given him by a friend
of one of his kids years ago. He said sometimes they'd
struggle to say Mr. and Mrs. Llanas so one day he was
called Papa Stache and it stuck.

Several years ago
when Llanas and his wife, Dr. Mary Llanas, found
themselves empty-nesters, he started to look for a new
opportunity. With his real estate broker hat on, Llanas
said he decided to purchase the restaurant property that
had been a tavern since about 1925.

He said he loved
the location on 13 acres that included Mill Pond.

"I wanted to give
the Big Bend community something they could enjoy," he
said.

While Llanas has
already renovated the interior and parts of the
exterior, he just recently put in a new parking lot that
expands from 15 to 20 spaces to 84 spaces. He wants to
bring back weddings and special events to the space,
which includes a grassy area along the pond. In that
area, there are already picnic tables and a place for
bonfires. People even cast their fishing lines from the
shore.

Papa Stache Pub & Eatery
reflects the nickname owner Ralph Llanas was given by
one of his kidsí childhood friends.Katherine Michalets/Freeman
Staff

Upscale menu, local
ingredients

When it came to
creating a menu, Llanas was inspired by what he loves to
cook at home and assembled dishes that have an upscale
pub food vibe with local ingredients. The menu includes
the Big Sexy Burger that is topped with bacon, Swiss,
cheddar, jack cheese, jalapeno, jack straw onions, and
signature Big Sexy Sauce on a toasted bun. There's also
the Skillet Mac & Cheese with three cheese pasta loaded
in a packed skillet with andouille sausage and bacon,
then baked to golden perfection. The menu also includes
salads, pizza and appetizers, such as the Little Italy,
which is house-made fries loaded with sauteed garlic
pepperoni, marinara, mozzarella and parmesan cheese,
fresh basil, and topped with a balsamic glaze.

Going forward,
Llanas has many little and big things he'd like to do
for Papa Stache, including adding a wine night and a
hitching post outside for horses. (He has even been
known to ride his horse three miles from his Muskego
home to work.) For those with furry four-legged
companions, a kennel is already set up outside.